Make a Small Living Room Look Luxe with a Chaise Lounge

Decorating a small living room can seem like a challenge, but it doesn't have to be. With some smart furniture arrangements and design tricks, you can make a petite living room feel open, airy, and luxe. One piece that works wonders? The chaise lounge. Strategically incorporating a chaise into a small living room layout allows you to maximize seating options and create a cozy spot for relaxing, all while adding a touch of luxury. Follow our guide to learn how to work a chaise lounge into a small living room for a luxe look.

Choose the Right Chaise Lounge

When shopping for a chaise lounge for a small living room, size and style are key factors. Look for more compact chaise lounges that provide comfortable seating without monopolizing valuable square footage. Here are some chaise lounge options that are sized right for small spaces:

• Petite Chaise Lounge. Look for chaise lounges specifically made for small spaces, like a 30" wide option without arms. The narrower profile saves space while still offering a seating/reclining surface.
• Corner Chaise Lounge. Make the most of an unused corner by placing a corner chaise lounge, custom-designed to fit flush in cozy nooks.
• Ottoman Chaise Lounge. Some chaise lounges come with a built-in ottoman at one end, maximizing functionality by providing extra storage and seating.

In addition to compact sizing, also consider a chaise with a lightweight, movable frame. This allows you to easily shift the chaise around to reconfigure your layout or create a multifunctional spot for lounging or guest seating as needed.

As far as style, opt for a chaise lounge with luxe design details to elevate your small space. Look for chaise lounges upholstered in rich fabrics like velvet or leather. Graceful, sloping silhouettes and ornamental features like tufting or turned wood legs also lend sophistication.

Strategic Placement

Carefully considering where to place your chaise lounge is key to making it work seamlessly in a diminutive living room. Here are some placement strategies to maximize both aesthetic appeal and functionality:

• Float in a corner. Position your chaise lounge on a diagonal in one of your living room's corners. Angling it creates an inviting reading nook without hogging floor space.
• Align with a view. Situate your chaise near a window with an attractive outdoor vista. Take advantage of the sightlines by creating a cozy spot to enjoy the scenery.
• Anchor with a console table. Station a slim console table directly behind your chaise lounge. This grounds the chaise visually in the space and provides decorative display space.

Complement with Furniture

The furniture you pair with your chaise lounge is integral for creating both seating arrangements and visual appeal. Opt for sleek, refined pieces that embrace openness to avoid a cramped look:

• Lightweight occasional chairs. Flank the chaise lounge with open armchairs or slipper chairs. The airy, compact footprint prevents clutter.
• A slender sofa or loveseat. Angle a sofa across from the chaise to define a conversation area. A 60-inch width or less prevents overcrowding.
• Narrow console tables. Tuck console tables behind or beside your chaise for surface space without bulk.
• Round coffee table. A round or oval shape takes up less visual space than boxy square. Go for legs versus a skirt too.

By selecting sleek, refined occasional furniture tailored to small spaces, you allow your chaise lounge to shine as the focal point while maintaining an open feel.

Rethink Your Layout

When incorporating a chaise in a small living room, it helps to think beyond the standard furniture arrangement. Get creative with your layout to make every inch count:

• Wall mount your TV. Skip the bulky TV stand by mounting your television. This lifts valuable technology off the floor.
• Leave the center open. Arrange furnishings along the room's perimeter to keep the middle of your space clear and free flowing.
• Layer rugs. Use a larger area rug underneath a smaller accent rug to define sitting spaces without clutter.

Unconventional yet thoughtful furniture placement prevents your living room from feeling boxy and cramped. Experiment to create distinct activity zones that feel open and luxe.

Use Design Tricks

A few smart design details go a long way towards helping a small living room live large. Integrate these subtle yet sophisticated touches as you decorate to elevate the ambiance:

• Incorporate mirrors. Strategically hang mirrors to visually expand the space and reflect natural light.
• Drape with height. Mount curtain rods close to the ceiling and opt for floor-skimming lengths. This draws the eye up for a loftier look.
• Add stylish lighting options. Swing arm wall sconces provide task lighting without cluttering surfaces. Opt for brass finishes for a hint of glam.

Details like these infuse small spaces with the illusion of grandeur characteristic of luxurious living rooms. Careful incorporation of mirrors, drapes, and lighting fixtures tricks the eye, making your petite space feel more expansive and opulent.

Play with Proportions

Purposeful furniture proportions also lend the impression of space and refinement. Seek out accent furnishings with:

• Thin legs and low profiles. Light, leggy side tables and open armchairs maintain views and airflow.
• Rounded edges. Circular, oval, or curved edges minimize visual weight in corners versus boxy edges.
• Compact or narrow footprints. As you accessorize, opt for sleek silhouettes over bulky profiles.

Select occasional pieces and accessories with proportions suiting your petite living room. This prevents furnishings from feeling overscaled and cumbersome. The streamlined shapes also complement your chaise lounge, embracing its graceful, reclining form.

Work with Color

A neutral color palette keeps your small living room feeling airy and expansive. But thoughtful punches of accent colors layered throughout provide the depth and dimension of luxurious rooms. Here are some tips for working with color in a small living room with a chaise lounge:

• Light backdrop. Choose soft, neutral wall colors like white, ivory, gray, or tan as a backdrop for your furnishings.
• Shared accent colors. Incorporate splashes of bolder color through accent pillows, throws, and additional furnishings.
• Subtle patterns. Look for upholstery or area rugs with subtle accent patterns over flashy large-scale prints.

Keep your overall color scheme light and soothing. Then weave in accent colors through tactile textiles and decor. Using the same accent shades throughout displays a sense of refinement and thoughtful planning characteristic of upscale living rooms.

Add Luxe Accents

Finishing touches like accessories and decor elevate your small living room to new levels of luxury. Curate a selection of accents that feel collected and considered:

• Artful objects. Display sculptures, vases, trays, and decor with artistic flair and metallic touches.
• Books and greenery. A mix of stacked hardcovers, preserved boxwood, and potted palms lend refined style.
• Pillows and throws. Incoporate a handcrafted look with textured pillows, cozy woven throws, and faux furs.

Effortlessly blending luxe accents creates an upscale ambiance and layered look. The collection of decor tells a story and displays your chic yet comfortable aesthetic.

A lounge can help elevate your small living room to a new level. Compact chaise options, thoughtful furniture pairing, and calculated use of design elements allow you to make lounging space without sacrificing a spacious feel. Accentuate with posh accents to finish your space with the upscale aesthetic of a professionally designed room. Follow our small space chaise lounge tips, and you'll enjoy a seating area perfect for unwinding in lavish style.